1. Interview with Richard Dawkins

Comment #116650 by OZE2 on January 26, 2008 at 11:37 pm

Quoting Professor Dawkins: " Base your belief on evidence. Don't base it on faith, revelation, tradition or authority."

What a knock-out blow! All dyed in the wool faith heads, without exception, surrender reason to "faith, revelation, tradition or authority" for their dogged belief of a divine deity.

I find this argument pretty potent and disconcerting to my Christian friends who want to appear intelligent and educated.

2. Debate between Christopher Hitchens and Alister McGrath

Comment #79373 by OZE2 on October 17, 2007 at 5:19 am

Hitch is truly a master debater - unflappable, incisive, quick thinking, a collossal memory from which he effortlessly draws his points of rebuttle - I wish him many many more years of good health and intellectual brilliance to fight the atheist's cause.

3. Christopher Hitchens - God Is Not Great

Comment #55150 by OZE2 on July 10, 2007 at 5:53 am

It is wonderful to learn that Hitchen's book is a runaway seller in so many countries including Australia where I live. However, to my great chagrin, Hitchen mentioned that his book is banned in Malaysia, probably the first Muslim country to have done so.

I have lived in Malaysia for many years and am quite surprised by the ban, being a moderate Islamic country with many inherited British institutions (although many have been watered down, like the independence of the judiciary, political jerry meandering, racism against the Chinese). It just shows how insecure the Islamists are feeling against the onslaught of rationalist thinking.

I am sure Singapore, a much more progressive country does not have a ban. Hence, you can be sure many educated Malaysians (especially those not of the Muslim faith) can still access a copy of the book by just making a short trip across the causeway.

I think the Malaysian government has by banning the book, inadvertently make it a best seller in Malaysia.

4. The God Delusion - Dawkins Feature

Comment #50797 by OZE2 on June 20, 2007 at 2:38 am

Having read both TGD and the more recent best seller "God is not GREAT" , I do not think RD has been vicious or "Vitriolic" as asserted by Michael Ruse. In fact it is milder in tone compared to CH's book although both books are master pieces. RD did say that his adjective laden discription of god is meant to be comical although still soundly based. Religion should not be treated with the velvet glove. Period.

5. Pope Warns of Globalization, Marxism

Comment #41791 by OZE2 on May 17, 2007 at 3:44 am

The most heart warming statement concerns the continuous decline in the number of catholics attending churches in this once bastion of catholic faith. Hopefully It is a sign of the beginning of the end of religiosity.

6. Richard Dawkins at The Sunday Times Oxford Literary Festival

Comment #28352 by OZE2 on March 28, 2007 at 11:02 pm

If one begins to connect all the little dots that McGrath has deliberately been scattering, one begins to understand his modus operandi. Some of these dots: he used to be an atheist, now he is a believer, he is also a scientist and a biologist, and a theologian, he is author of the " first and second fleas" hoping to latch onto TGD. Join all these dots and the well traversed McGrath becomes an eminently qualified person whose views and prognosis on religion and science should demand respect. In contrast RD is only an evolutionery biologist. Atkins has doubts whether McGrath was ever an atheist. RD used to decline debates with dyed in the wool faithheads because it would only provide fresh oxygen to their sterile cause. indeed, though McGrath failed to impress, nevertheless, he is rejuvenated by virtue of sharing the podium with our luminary and illustrious RD.

7. Richard Dawkins at The Sunday Times Oxford Literary Festival

Comment #28118 by OZE2 on March 28, 2007 at 4:32 am

McGrath has the gift of language fluency but almost all his utterrances are devoid of tangible substance.I don't regard this as intelligence but intellectual dishonesty. He evidently was trapped in a corner when confronted by RD regarding his belief in miracles re. the ressurrection and virgin birth. His answer was feeble and incredulous. Recalling his debate with Professor Atkins, McGrath "was never an athiest in the first place but a Christian under cover".

8. Evolution Debate - Pigliucci vs Hovind

Comment #20702 by OZE2 on February 6, 2007 at 2:40 am

Hovind and many of his ilk (Ted Haggard came to mind) represent one of the most pernicious of our species preying on the gullible and fleecing them to feed their vanity, greed and dishonest lives.

Their modus operandi is to spread misinformation, lies and confusion among the unthinking believers. How could these people call themselves God's holy men?

It is great news that Howind has met his nemesis and is safely locked away for a decade.
Helleluja!

9. Discussion of The God Delusion

Comment #18330 by OZE2 on January 19, 2007 at 7:37 pm

Dear ABC aka Aunty : Please ensure your panelists are cerebral, honest and candid and have read the designated book before being allowed to make comments on national TV.
I am deeply embarrassed.

10. Radical cleric sparks fury in Australia

Comment #18206 by OZE2 on January 19, 2007 at 2:25 am

These radical muslim clerics and some of their supporters holding prominent positions in the Muslim communities have thoroughly exploited the generosity and welcome Australia has given them. Using Australia as a safe haven, ( some of them are known to rort the welfare support system here) they preach hatred and intolerance as their right of free speech in a democracy. Yet they wonder why the public of late is beginning to show negativism towards them. We have been told that the majority of Muslims in Australia are moderate and peace loving compared to the radical fringe. But so far we have scarcely heard any unambiguous condemnation of moderate leaders against these mad and dangerous radicals. A well known Australian columnist recently attributed to these radical muslims gaining Australian citizenship as a "failure of public policy". Although Australia prides itself as a tolerant multicultural society, we can only pray that hindsight will guide its current migration programme.

11. Atheists challenge the religious right

Comment #16153 by OZE2 on January 5, 2007 at 3:42 am

I've just watched Wafa Sultan's articulate and courageous exposition of the militancy and intolerance of Koranic teachings. If she were living in any one of the Muslim countries, most probably a fatwa would have been issued for her to be punished. It's great her views were broadcast over the Arabic satellite network which must be like oxygen to a stultified atmosphere. She is indeed a rare breed.